Grove ready to make move on rivals

The race to the Scottish championship hots up this week with Grove Menzieshill looking in good shape to make a move on their two main rivals, writes our women’s hockey correspondent.

The Dundee outfit are three points adrift of leaders Clydesdale Western, but, with today’s trip to Watsonians predicted to wipe out that deficit, their focus will rapidly turn to tomorrow’s crunch meeting when Glasgow’s big guns and title-holders Edinburgh University go head-on at Peffermill.

The students should take care of Kelburne at Glasgow Green this afternoon but, if the scenarios play out as anticipated, Grove will still be holding the ace card in catch-up games.

Meanwhile MJV Wanderers’ bumpy start to the season has effectively ruled them out of top-four contention.

Currently mid-table, they head for Wildcats’ den at Auchenhowie hoping the swift transition from last weekend’s indoor medal-winning European exploits doesn’t present too much of a handicap.

Wins for Grove and the University would benefit Wanderers’ position as best of the rest.

University matches dominate division 2 with Dundee doing much better than St Andrews and Stirling.

They engage in a bottom-of-thetable clash while Dundee face a long haul to Border Reivers.

Kinross entertain Haddington in Championship A with Grove Menzieshill A looking to leapfrog their nearest rivals Waverley in the capital.

In Championship B St Andrews IIs and Perthshire wrap up a doubleheader at Kilgraston tomorrow while Madras v St Andrews IIIs is today’s top game in Midland division 1.